In a startling case that unfolded in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Sheng Zhu Zheng, a man originally from Fujian, was apprehended on October 18, eight years after he fled justice. In a violent incident years ago, Zheng inflicted severe head injuries on his 16-year-old son, Daming Zheng, during a domestic dispute. Following the attack, Zheng was arrested by the NYPD’s 5th precinct and subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison. However, he absconded while out on bail and remained a fugitive until his recent capture.

The events in question took place on January 7, 2015, when Zheng, then 42, had a heated argument with his wife over financial issues. Daming intervened to defend his mother, pushing his father away. In response, Zheng retrieved a meat cleaver and struck his son multiple times, inflicting serious injuries to his forehead, ear, and arm. Daming was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. By March 2016, before serving his sentence, Zheng vanished during a court hearing while on bail and was later placed on the U.S. Marshals’ wanted list.

While the details of his recent arrest remain somewhat unclear to the judge and lawyers involved, sources indicate that Zheng was apprehended in Brooklyn for “promoting gambling.” At the time of his initial arrest, he held a green card and still held a Chinese passport. The presiding judge had made it clear that upon capture, Zheng would go directly to prison to fulfill his sentence.

On the day of his court appearance on the 23rd, Zheng was seen in prison garb, handcuffed, with unkempt hair and stubble, and was provided a Chinese interpreter. The court proceedings were brief, lasting only about five minutes, during which Zheng did not speak. Judge Gregory Carro confirmed that Zheng must begin serving his sentence immediately; court records indicate that he was convicted on charges including use of a weapon causing serious injury and aggravated assault with a weapon, along with three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.

Zheng, who had been working as a deliveryman prior to the incident, lived with his wife, Yan Fang Guo, and their three children on Market Street in Chinatown. Prosecutors revealed that Zheng frequently berated his wife for cash to gamble and that she had expressed concerns about losing their money in gambling, which escalated into the domestic violence incident. Court documents suggest that this was not the first instance of domestic abuse against Guo.

During the conflict, Daming rose to defend his mother, and despite his efforts, he did not leave any visible injuries on his father—his intent solely being to protect his mother. Zheng then famously armed himself with a knife from the kitchen and assaulted Daming, attempting to prevent him from contacting the authorities as his younger siblings witnessed the traumatic events unfold.

Following the attack, Daming was found to have multiple lacerations requiring over ten stitches on his forehead and other areas. According to court records, Zheng’s recent capture has not led to any new charges against him.